Vending-machine.



No'. 694,968. Patented Mar." u, :902.

G. L. Ws. JUHNSBH. A

VENDING M'AcHlNE.

(Application filed Apr. 29, 1901) (No Model) 2 Smets-sheet w: nofws vens cn.. mimo-Lum. wxsnwcrrou. n. c.

v No. 94,968. Patented Mar. li, |902.

` G. L. W. JOHNSON.

VENDING MACHINE.

Application led Apr. 29, 19D1.\

(llo Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

l \\\\Y rllllllllllllllllllllllllll WIWI-45.55 En NITED STATES APATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE LORING EV. JQHNSON, OF MALDEN, *MASSACHUSETTS VENDINGfMACHINE.

SPECIFICATION formingpar't of Letters Patent No. 694,968, dated March 1 1, 1902.

l Application filed April 29, 1901. Serial No. 57,878.Y (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, t may concern-.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE LoRINc W. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Malden, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Vending- Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for vending articles-such as candy, chewing-gum, and the like-said articles being contained in a chuteor chutes.V

The object of the invention is, further, to provide a machine having a large capacity for articles to be vended as aforesaid without increasing the size of the machine beyond those in ordinary use. Y

The invention consists in a vending-machine containing two chutes, mechanism to eject the lowermost article from a column `of articles in the rst chute,andmeans to guide. said mechanism in the proper direction `to eject the lowermost article from a column of articles in the second chute after the first chute has been emptied.

Tho invention further consists in ihegspeciiic form lof chute employed.

The invention further consists in the means whereby said mechanism is guided to eject articles from the second chute after the first chute'has been emptied.

The invention still further consists in the combination and arrangement of parts set forth in the following specification, and particularly pointed out in the claims thereof.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section of my improved vending-machine. my improved double chute containing articles to be vended and of the coin-controlled mechanism whereby said articles are ejected from said chute. Fig. 8 is a section taken on line 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4 4, Fig. 2. Fig.'5 is a detail section taken on line 4 4, Fig. 2, similar toFig. 4,

but showing the parts in dierent positions.`

Fig. G is a detail vsectionon line 6 G of Fig. 2. Fig. .7 is a detail section on line 7 7 of Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is a detail section on line 8 8 of Fig. 2. Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail section on line 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 10 is a central vertical section similar to Fig. 1, showing a Fig. 2 is a plan View of Likenumerals refer to like parts through-` out the several views of the drawings.

In the drawings, 10 is the frame of the machine, having an upper front panel 11, secured to said frame by a'lock12, and a lower front panel 13, witha coin-receptacle 14 fast thereto, said lower Afro'nt panel being suitably fastened to the frame of the machine. Between the panels 11 and 13'is located my improved coin-controlled mechanism 15, by means of which thearticies 16 to be vended contained in the chuteA 17 are ejected therefrom, as hereinafter described, and fall into the space 18 below said chute and are guided down the curved guide-wall 19 to the deliv= ery-shelf 20, as shown in Fig. 1'.

My improved vending-machine is so constructed that a [chute containinga single compartment for articles to he vendedmay he used or a chute containing two or more compartments.

Y.In Figs. 1 2, and 3 l havefillustrated my vending-machine with a double chute thereon and the coin-controlled mechanism necessary to V.eject the articles from said double chute in positiontherein.

In Fig. 10 I have illustrated a singlefcompartment chute, with the specific mechanism for ejecting articles from the double chute removed from thecoin-controlled mechanism.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 9, inclusive, the coincontrolled mechanism for ejecting articles from the chute 17 consists of a base-plate 2l, with a front plate 22 and top plate 23 fast thereto and rigidly attached to the frame 10 ofthe machine. The front plate 22 has a hole 24 therein, through which the coin is inserted into a recess'or hole25 ina reciproca'- tory slide 26, guided in ways. 31, fast to the base-plate 21. The reciprocatory slide 26 has a vertical ear 27 thereon, to which is attached a horizontal tube 28, which serves as a means whereby the slide 26 may be pushed toward the chute 17 and also as a receptacle for the spiral compression-spring 29, one end of which bears against the forward closed end of the tube 28 and the other end thereof against the ear 30, fast to one of the station-V ary ways 3l. The chute 17 has two vertical compartments 32 and 33 therein, each consti= IOO tuting a separate chute adapted to receive sticks of gum or candy, the articles in the chute 32 being ejected therefrom by a pushlinger 34, pivoted to a screw and held normally against the ear 30 by a spiral torsional spring 36, which is coiledaronnd a screw 37, screwed into the ear 27 and forming an adjustable stop by bearing against the stationary wall 38, fast to the base-plate 21. The

slide 26 is pushed, by means of the tube 28, to-

compartment 32 until all of said articles have y been ejected therefrom,whereupon at the next forward movement of said slide 26 the pushnger 34 encounters the inclined face 40 on the guide-block 41,said guide-block 41 having been placed in the compartment 32 on top of the uppermost article in said compartment. It will therefore be seen that as soon as the varticles in the compartment 32 have been ejected therefrom, as described, the pushinger 34 will be guided by the inclined face upon the next forward movement of the slide 26 to enter the compartment 33 at the bottom thereof and eject the lowermost article in said compartment 33 therefrom, and upon each succeeding movement of the slide 26 the push-finger 34 will be guided to the compartment 33 bythe inclined face 40 upon the guide-block 41 until said compartment 33 shall have been emptied of all the articles therein, and thus the machine automatically adjusts itself to empty a double chute of the two columns of articles therein, thus doubling the capacity of the machine.

The compartment or chute 32 consists of two vertical end guide-walls 7l 71 and two side walls 72 72, the side walls 72 being parallel to each other and to the sides of the push-finger 34 when said push-finger is in the position shown in Fig. 2. The compartment or chute has two end walls 73 73 and two side Walls 74 74, said side walls 74 located at an angle to the side walls 72 72 of the chute 32 and the end walls 73-located out of line with the end walls 7l and farther away from the pushfinger 34, Fig. 2, this relative location of the chutes 32 and 33 being rendered necessary by the distance which it is necessary to move the push-finger 34 after striking the incline 40' before it can be swung upon its pivot to a position in which the sides of said push-finger will be parallel with the side walls 74 of the compartment 33.

The shute 17 is fast to a plate 75, said plate 75 being in turn fastened to the main baseplate 21 and extending entirely across the bottom of the compartment 32, but only covering about two-thirds of the bottom of the compartment 33 as shown by dotted line in Fig. 2. It will therefore be seen that a movement of the push-finger 34 which is sufficient to eject articles from the compartment 32 will also be sufficient to eject articles from the compartment 33, in that it is unnecessary that said push -nger should travel the entire length of said compartment 33 in order to eject an article therefrom, the plate 75 extending only about two-thirds of the'length of the bottom of said compartment, so that when an article is pushed to the dotted line shown in Fig. 2 it will drop downwardly into the space 18. The follower or weight 76 is placed in the compartment 33 in order to assist in feeding said articles downwardly in said compartment.

In order to prevent the machine from being tampered with or to prevent persons from obtaining articles therefrom without depositing a coin therein, I provide a locking-lever 42, pivoted at 43 to the wall 38, the free end of said lever normally projecting into a slot 44 in ,the slide 26. Said lever 42 has a pin 45, fast thereto, projecting horizontally therefrom and resting upon a dog 46, pivoted at 47 to the Wall 38. The lever 42 and dog 46 are held down normally by the spring 48. The dog 46 has an ear 49 thereon, which projects downwardly into a slot 50 in the reciprocatory slide 2G. Said dog has another ear 51 thereon, which projects into another slot 52 in said slide 26.

Supposing now a coin 53 to be placed in the recess 25, as hereinbefore described, of a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of said recess and of the same thickness as the reciprocatory slide 26, it will be seen that the periphery of said coin will extend into the slot 50, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2, and as the slide 26 is pushed toward the chute 17 by means of thel tube 28 the portion of the periphery of said coin 53 which projects into said slot 50 will encounter the ear 49 upon` the dog 46, as shown in Fig. 3, and push the same to the left in said gure, raising the lever 42 by means of the pin 45 until the end of said lever is free of the slot in said slide, andthe forward movement of the slide 2 6 may be continued until the push-finger 34 has ejected the lowermost article in the compartment 32 therefrom. When the slide is released, it will be returned to the position shown in Fig. 2 by the spring 29. If the coin or piece of metal introduced into the recess 25 were not the exact diameter of said recess, then the dog 46 `would not be tipped upon its pivot, as hereinbefore described, and the free end of the lever 42 would remain in the slot 44 and said slide would be locked against a complete forward movement by the said lever'42 abutting against the end of said slot 44, and as a further lock the ear 51 would abut against the end ofthe slot 52 and lock the slide 26 against forward movement.

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It will be seen that the ear 49 does not project downwardly to contact with the baseplate 2l, so that if thecoin or otherpiece of metal inserted in the recess is of less thickness than the slide 26 said coin will pass nnder the ear 49 without tipping the dog upon its pivot, and the lever 42 and dog 46 will lock said slide 26, as hereinbefore described.

As another safeguard against the machine being tampered with I cut away or bevel the wall of the recess 25 at 54, so that if a coin or piece of metal is too thick to pass underr the ear 49 from the'dog 46, but is not of the full thickness of the slide 26, then upon the periphery of said piece of `metal which: projects into the slot 50, encountering the ear 49 upon the forward movement of, the'slide 26,V

' said piece of metal would be pushed laterally across said slide and into the recess formed by said cnt-away or beveled portion, and the slide will be lockedby the failureV torock the dog upon its pivot, as hereinbefore described. I provide a` hole in the base plate 2l,

through which any slug Will'drop which is of smaller diameter thansaid hole, the hole 55 being located concentri'cally with the recess 25.

In order to loch the slide when a washer having an Vopening therethrough -is introduced into the recess 25, I provide a vertical pin 56, arranged to slide in a hole or bearing formed in the wall 38 and in line with. the center of the recess 25 and in the path of motion of said recess, and I also provide a.sec. ond pin 57, arranged to slide in a bearing.

formed in the wall 3S, the `upper end of said pin 57 extended horizontally to rest upon the top of the pin 56 and the. lower end of said pin 57 terminating immediately above the slot 44. A spring 58 rests upon the-top of the pin 57 and holds both pins 56 and 57 down.

It willfbe seen that when a washer 59 is inserted in the recess 25 land the slide 26 is pushed forward that when the hole in lthe washer comes underneath the pin 56 said pin will be forced downwardly by the spring 58 and the pin 57 will enter the slot 44, locking the slide 26, with the center of the recess in line with the pin 56. Upon releasing the slide 26 it will be returned to the position shown in Fig. 2 by the spring 29. A

A hole 60 is provided in the base-plate 2l,

' through which the coin drops into the receptacle 14 when the slide 26 has been pushed snfcien'tly far forward to'bring said coin above said hole. In order to insure the slide 26 being carried to the full extent of its movement after said slide has been started in its The lower end of4 the pawl' A U -shaped spring 66 bears against the lock-pawl 6I and preventsit from`moving beyond a certain distance either side of a Vercal plane passing through the pivot 62 thereof.

The operation of this device is as follows: As the slide 26 is pushed forward the pawl 61 is rocked upon itsv pivot from the position shown in full lines, Fig. 7, to that shown in dotted lines therein, the hole 63 being cut entirely through the plate, allowing said rocking pawl to swing from one side to the other of a vertical plane passing through its pivot. As they slidev advances if at any time between the two extreme positions of the slide 26 the pressure is released upon the tube 28 said slide 'cannot be returned to the position shown in Fig. 2 because of the locking-pawl 61, which will engage one of the recesses 64 in said slide and lock said slide against return movement, the depthof the recesses k64 not being sufficient to allow saidlocking-pawl to swing upon its pivot from the position 4shown in dotted lines, Fig. A7, to that shown in full lines therein, andY hence it will be -seen that after havingonce started the slide y26 the forward movement ofsaid slide must be con-v tinued to its limit, whereupon'the hole 65 in said slide coming beneath the locking-pawl the spring 66 willimmediately throw said locking-pawl from the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 7, to that shown in full lines, and.

17 and substitute the chute 67, Fig. l0, saidV chute having a single compartment therein. The push-finger'34 is also removed by swinging the free. lend thereof to the left, Fig. 2,

` vuntilj it clears the ear 30, and then tip said free end upwardly until the pivoted end thereof is free from the lower end of the pivotal ICO IIO

screw 35, thus removing said push-finger,

and the slide 26, acting topush the lowermost article inthe column of articles in the chute 67 backwardly and out o'f"`saidl chute into the space V18, as hereinbefore described in the use of vthe double chute.

The slide 26 and the dilferent means for locking said slide under diiferent conditions operate'in precisely the same manner as hereinbefore described. When the slide 26 has been pushed forward to an extreme limit, the end 68 of said slide will move to a lsulcient distance to uncover'the base-.plate 2l beneath the opening 24, and it is then possible `to insert a piece of metalor otherl substance, whichv upon the lrelease of the slide 26 will be pushed backby said end 68 and lodged between the said 'end and the. downwardly-projectingf ange 69 upon the frontplate 22. This leads to blocking the machine, and to prevent such an accident I cnt out said base-plate, as'at 70, Figs. I and 2,r so thatsaid piece of metal willdrop through said'openings 70 and cause no damage.

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While I prefer to use the form of follower shown in Fig. 2, it is evident that without departing from the spirit of my invention the follower might be constructed to descend in the chute 32las the articles were removed therefrom, said follower1 having an incline projecting beyond the end wall 7l toward the push-finger 3i, and in that case the chute 33 might be placed with the end walls thereof substantially in line with the end walls of the chute 32. Again, it will be seen that while the push-finger 3l is a very practical means for emptying the second chute after the first chute had been emptied, on account of the slight amount of force necessary to move said finger upon its pivot and guide it from the first to the second chute, yet without departing from the spirit of my invention an equivalent for said push-finger might be substituted, consisting of a slide capable of being guided to move laterally across the slide 26 and perform the function of the finger 3ft.

It is evident that the number of chutes corresponding to the chutes 32 and 33 might be extended indefinitely and a follower putin each chute to guidethe push-finger to the chute adjacent thereto without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I-Iaving thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire by Letters Patent to secure, 1s-

l. In avending-machine, two chutes, mechanism to eject the lowermost article from a column of articles in one of said chutes, and means to guide said mechanism in the proper direction to eject the lowermost article from acolumn of articles in the second chute after said first chute has been emptied.

2. Inavending-machine, two chutes, mechanism to eject the lowermost article from a column of articles in one of said chutes, and means contained within said first chute to guide said mechanism in the proper direction to eject the lowermost article from a column of articles in the second chute after said first chute has been emptied.

3. In avending-machine, two chutes, mechanism to eject the lowermost article from a column of articles in one of said chutes, and a follower having an incline thereon adapted to guide said mechanism in the proper direction to eject thelowermost article from a column of articles in the second chute after said first chute has been emptied.

4. In a vending-machine, two chutes adjacent to each other, the end guide-walls of one of said chutes located'out of line with the end guide-walls of the other of said chutes.

5. In a vending-machine, two chutes adjacent to each other, the side walls of one of said chutes located at an angle to the side walls of the other of said chutes.

6. In a Vending-machine, two chutes adjacent to each other, the side walls of one of said chutes located at an angle to the side walls 0f the other of said chutes, and the end guide-walls of one of said chutes located out of line with the end guide-walls of the other of said chutes.

7. In a vending-machine, two chutes, a push-finger, mechanism to impart a reciprocating motion to said push-finger, whereby said finger ejects the lowermost article from acolumn of articlesin one of said chutes, and means to guide said push-finger in the proper direction to eject the lowermost article from a column of articles in the second chute after said first chute has been emptied.

8. In a vending-machine, two chutes, a push-finger, mechanism to impart a reciprocating motion to said push-finger and carry the same beneath one of said chutes, and means to guide said push-finger beneath the second of said chutes after said first chute has been emptied.

9. In a vending machine, two chutes, a push-finger, mechanism to impart a reciprocating motion to said push-finger, whereby said finger ejects the lowermost article from a column of articles in one of said chutes, and means contained within said first chute to guide said push-finger in the proper direction to eject the lowermost article from a column ot' articles in the second chute after said first chute has been emptied.

l0. In a vending-machine, two chutes, a reciprocatory slide, a push-linger pivoted to said slide and arranged -to pass beneath one of said chutes, and means to guide said pushfinger beneath the second of said chutes after said first chute has been emptied.

1l. In a vending-machine, two chutes adjacent to each other, a push-finger, mechanism to impart a reciprocating motion to said push-finger and carry the same beneath one of said chutes, and means contained wit-hin said first chute to guide said push-finger beneath the second of said chutes after said first chute has been emptied.

12. In a vending-machine, two chutes adjacent to each other, a reciprocatory slide, a

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push-fingerpivoted to said slide and arranged to pass beneath one of said chutes, and means contained within said first chute to guide said push-finger beneath the second of said chutes after said first chute has been emptied.

13. In a vending-machine, two chutes, a push-finger, mechanism to impart a reciproeating motion to said push-finger whereby said finger ejects the lowermost article from a column of articles in one of said chutes, and a follower having an incline thereon, within said first chute, adapted to guide said pushfinger in the proper direction to eject the lowermost article from a column of articles in the second chute after said first chute has been emptied.

14. In a vending-machine, two chutes adjacent to each other, a push-finger, mechan- IZO heath the second of said chutes after said io :first chute has been emptied.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my ha-nd in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE LORINGl W. JOHNSON.

Witnesses: A

CHARLES S. GooDING, LOUIS A. JONES. 

